202510 वॉलपेपर संग्रह

Centuries ago, in parts of ancient Europe, the night marking the end of the harvest and beginning of winter was feared as a time when the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped. Communities lit fires to keep wandering spirits at bay, believing that on this night the boundary between the two faded. These rituals gave rise to Halloween, echoing in legends around Bran Castle.

Every year during the Hindu lunar month of Kartik, the desert town of Pushkar in Rajasthan comes alive with one of the country's most colourful gatherings—the Pushkar Camel Fair, a highlight of the festive season. The event usually takes place between late October and early November and this year the celebrations stretch from today until 5 November, drawing crowds from near and far.

The Portuguese island of Madeira—about 965 kilometres south-west of mainland Portugal—hides a forest unlike any other. On its northern slopes lies Fanal Forest, where veils of mist drift through centuries-old til trees. These are part of the Laurissilva of Madeira—an outstanding relict of a once widespread laurel forest type. Laurissilva is the largest surviving area of its kind, with about 90% considered primary forest. Home to a unique array of plants and animals, including endemic species such as the Madeiran long-toed pigeon, it remains a living museum of natural history.

From 18th-century visitors to fire-carved trails, this rock city tells a story of survival. Hidden in Czechia's Hradec Králové Region, the Adršpach–Teplice Rocks form Central Europe's largest sandstone labyrinth. For centuries, the cliffs and passages lay cloaked in forest, until a great fire stripped the land bare. Arches, towers and winding corridors emerged out of the ashes, and the first hiking paths were carved into the rock. Soon after, explorers and poets left their marks with stone inscriptions that captured a destination both wild and enchanting.

Today's image features Mumbai's Juhu Beach, where waves meet devotion as thousands gather for Chhath Puja, one of India's most ancient and rigorous festivals. Though rooted in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh, the tradition travels with communities, turning city shorelines into spaces of worship beneath the open sky. Chhath is dedicated to Surya, the Sun God, and his consort Usha, revered as Chhathi Maiya. Devotees fast, pray and thank the Sun God for sustaining life while seeking blessings for health, prosperity and children's well-being.

Perched high in the mountains of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia, the thick-billed raven holds the title of the world's largest raven. At more than 70 centimetres in length and weighing around 1.5 kilograms, it is about a quarter heavier than the common raven. Its enormous, arched bill—pale at the base and close to 9 centimetres long—is the largest among perching birds. These ravens live mostly between 1,500 and 3,400 metres above sea level, found across farmland, rocky cliffs and even rooftops in mountain towns.

Today, we step into the Martimoaapa Mire Reserve in Finland, where wide, cold-climate wetlands and peatlands stretch across a landscape shaped over thousands of years. This reserve is more than just mires—it carries layers of history. During Finland's Prohibition era (1919–1932), smugglers hauled sacks of liquor from Sweden across these bogs, following a 'spirits' route that passed through Martimoaapa. Parts of that path can still be traced today. Imagine trekking with a heavy pack over soggy ground—would you have made it?

She was never meant to fade away. When the RMS Queen Mary sailed in 1936, she stole the spotlight across the Atlantic—an Art Deco liner that broke speed records and carried celebrities, royalty and dignitaries. War transformed her from a floating palace into the 'Grey Ghost,' stripped of luxury and loaded with Allied troops. In 1967, after 30 years at sea, she retired to Long Beach, in California, United States, where her decks now serve as hotel corridors, guided exhibits and a living monument to maritime history.

Ever tried spotting a snow leopard in the wild? It's called the 'ghost of the mountains' for a reason—you're more likely to see its pawprints than the big cat itself. But every October 23, the species steps into the spotlight on International Day of the Snow Leopard, a day set aside to protect this elusive predator and its rugged home.

In Bulgaria, on the western slopes of the Balkan Mountains, the Belogradchik Rocks stand like a natural gallery where every formation tells a tale. Shaped over millions of years by erosion, these sandstone and limestone pillars twist and tower into outlines that locals swear resemble people, animals and even entire scenes. That's why names like 'The Horseman,' 'The Schoolgirl' and 'The Monks' have stuck—it's a landscape where spotting shapes feels a bit like playing nature's version of charades.

Today is Diwali, a festival that celebrates hope, prosperity and the triumph of good over evil. It marks Rama's return to Ayodhya after defeating the demon king Ravana, and honours the goddess Lakshmi, believed to bring wealth and well-being into homes, while some communities worship the goddess, Kali. Families clean and decorate their homes, exchange sweets (or mithai), and gather for prayers—filling neighbourhoods with an atmosphere of joy. Meanwhile, markets bustle with shoppers buying gifts and new clothes, while fireworks light up the sky. Central to the festival are diyas—small oil lamps whose flames symbolise the triumph of light over darkness and the promise of new beginnings.

How good would it feel if you could just hang out and do absolutely nothing all day? That's exactly what sloths do. The Hoffmann's two-toed sloth, featured in today's image, is a prime example of this slow-paced lifestyle. Their deliberate movements conserve energy, avoid predators and even allow algae to grow on their fur, creating green camouflage among the canopy.

In Minnesota, United States, autumn carries more than crimson leaves—it brings the crisp promise of apple season. From mid-August through late October, orchards across the state open their rows of Honeycrisp, Haralson and dozens of other cultivars, each bred for flavour, resilience and charm. Today's image captures that moment: branches heavy with ripe fruit, ready for harvest. This land takes its apples seriously. The state apple, the Honeycrisp, now a world favourite, was born in the orchards of the University of Minnesota, where scientists have cultivated apples for over a century.

Across ages, archaeology has urged us to look beneath the surface, unearthing stories buried in the land. At first glance, Silbury Hill in Wiltshire, England, may seem like a simple slope in the countryside. However, it conceals a 4,500-year-old Neolithic enigma. Starting around 2400 BCE, chalk was locally quarried, transported and compacted by hand, layer by layer, over generations. The result is the tallest prehistoric mound in Europe, built entirely by human effort, rising to almost 40 metres.

Nestled within Michigan's Rock River Canyon Wilderness in the United States, Rock River Falls emerges amid a landscape shaped by glaciers, dense woods and layers of history. In the Upper Peninsula, humans have left their traces for millennia: Indigenous Algonquian-speaking peoples were followed by French and British explorers and waves of Finnish, Swedish and French-Canadian immigrants settled there during the 19th-century mining and logging booms. Today, this sparsely populated region hosts barely 3% of Michigan's residents, cradling its forests and waterfalls in near-natural serenity.

Think of a cat that can vanish into the forest without a sound—that's the Eurasian lynx. With its tufted ears and a piercing gaze, this feline is the largest of the four lynx species. Stretching over 100 centimetres in length and standing as tall as 75 centimetres at the shoulder, the Eurasian lynx is built for power and precision. Its padded paws aren't just for sneaking; they act like snowshoes, spreading its weight so it can chase down prey in deep winter drifts. Mostly a nocturnal hunter, it spends its days tucked away in thickets or rocky dens, venturing out under the cover of darkness to stalk deer, hares and squirrels.

Far more than pizza toppings or sautéed sides, mushrooms are ecological powerhouses, essential for healthy forests. They break down dead matter, recycle nutrients and support tree growth through underground networks called mycorrhizae. Some also help store carbon in the soil, playing a role in climate regulation.

Ever wondered what it's like to live on a movie set? Oia is about as close as it gets, part of Greece's Santorini archipelago. This village has appeared in films like 'The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants' and 'Tomb Raider,' thanks to its Cycladic houses—cube-shaped homes with flat roofs—and cliffside views that feel almost unreal. Its unique architecture has roots in the late 19th century. Sailors and merchants carved houses right into the volcanic cliffs—cool in summer and warm in winter. The white-and-blue theme is also more than just for show: houses were painted with lime wash so rainwater would run off and be collected. Today, visitors wander its cobbled lanes, explore the Naval Maritime Museum or climb to the ruins of Agios Nikolaos Castle for unforgettable sunsets.

From the lively shores of Chennai to the untouched sands of Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu's coastline promises an experience for every kind of beach lover. Marina Beach buzzes with energy, while quieter stretches invite moments of solitude. Together, these shores paint a vivid picture of the state's natural beauty and cultural richness. Golden sands, swaying palms and endless blue waters create the perfect canvas; whether you're seeking relaxation, a thrill of adventure or a glimpse into the region's heritage.

Some places are just stops on the map, but Saranac Lake in Adirondack Mountains, in New York, United States, is a destination that keeps people hooked year-round. Despite its name, this village isn't directly on the Saranac Lakes themselves but rather on Lake Flower, a wide section of the Saranac River. For centuries, the area—nicknamed 'The Capital of the Adirondacks'—was used by Indigenous peoples for hunting and travel. By the late 19th century, it gained fame as a health retreat, where Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau pioneered fresh-air treatment for tuberculosis. The cure cottages from that era still stand today.

Birds don't bother with passports, visas or luggage—they simply spread their wings and fly. Twice a year, billions of migratory birds criss-cross the planet, travelling immense distances between breeding and wintering grounds. World Migratory Bird Day, marked on the second Saturday of May and October, celebrates this incredible journey. In India, the story takes on a vivid form each winter, when lakes and wetlands burst into life with the arrival of birds from colder regions. Places like Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Rajasthan transform into lively sanctuaries, offering some of the best opportunities to witness the spectacle.

Some dates mark a single milestone—Fiji's October 10 marks two. On that day in 1874, the islands officially became a British colony. Almost a century later, in 1970, the same date saw Fiji raise its own flag and declare independence. Fiji Day is a unique national holiday—part reflection, part celebration. The day begins with formal ceremonies, where the Fijian flag is hoisted and leaders deliver speeches. Schools and community groups often stage reenactments and performances. Streets fill with parades, villages host cultural dances like the meke and rugby pitches come alive with matches. Families prepare traditional dishes like lovo, where meat and root crops are cooked underground, and kokoda, a citrus-marinated fish dish.

As World Space Week draws to a close, the cosmos continues to give us reasons to look up in awe. Picture clouds—not drifting across our skies, but stretching across space itself, cradling the birth of new stars. That's exactly what NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has revealed in its view of the Pillars of Creation—shown here—with colours and details unlike anything seen before.

With eight arms and plenty of charm, the octopus takes the spotlight today. On World Octopus Day, as we reflect on their brilliance, we're reminded that even these ocean geniuses can't outsmart threats like climate change and pollution. Protecting their homes means safeguarding the future of our seas.

It's that time of year in the United States when the hills shed their summer greens, unveiling a blaze of colours that lights up the season. The change usually begins in September and early October, with higher slopes turning first, followed by the lower valleys. Among the stars of this display are the aspens, whose leaves shimmer like gold coins in the sunlight. The magic of aspen colours, however, isn't guaranteed year after year. Their golden glow depends on many factors—tree health, local weather shifts, soil moisture and where they grow in terms of altitude and latitude. Healthy aspens are the true stars of the season: strong, thriving groves burst with brighter colours and hold onto their leaves longer, while stressed or weakened trees often fade quickly, offering only a glimpse of their usual brilliance. A spot that dazzled one fall might look muted the next.

The shiver felt under a full autumn moon, when the air hints at winter's arrival, has a way of lingering in memory. One of China's most cherished holidays, the Mid-Autumn Festival—also known as the Moon Festival—adds another touch of magic to the end of the harvest season. It's celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month of the Chinese calendar—this year, on October 6. According to legend, it's also the night when the moon goddess Chang'e watches over the world.

Rising above Orchha's skyline, Jahangir Mahal whispers tales of emperors across dynasties. Completed at the close of the 16th century, this grand palace became a symbol of alliance and celebration between the Bundelas and the mighty Mughals. Some believe it was built to commemorate the visit of Emperor Jahangir himself, transforming this fortified marvel into both a royal residence and a ceremonial showpiece. Today, its walls still echo with stories of conquest, camaraderie and courtly splendour.

From October 4 to 10, World Space Week invites us to transcend our earthly bounds and chase the stars. It was born from the launch of Sputnik 1 by the USSR in 1957 and the signing of the Outer Space Treaty in 1967, a pioneering international commitment to peaceful cosmic exploration. During this week, classrooms buzz with experiments, planetaria echo with wonder and telescopes bridge the gap to distant galaxies. Together, these moments weave a universal story of science, discovery and humanity's relentless drive to push boundaries. The week's mission is clear: to ignite the next generation of explorers, engineers and dreamers ready to rewrite the cosmos.

Mists curl, waters glimmer and legends linger—welcome to Glen Brittle. On the Isle of Skye, Scotland's fabled 'Misty Isle', the glen stretches in a sweep of purple heather carpeting its rugged slopes. The landscape hums with echoes of the past: dinosaurs left footprints on these cliffs long before Mesolithic hunters traced its streams over 8,000 years ago. In the 9th century, seafaring Norse Vikings settled here. Centuries later, the powerful MacLeod and MacDonald clans claimed these lands, their castles standing guard over countless battles and alliances.

A day that reminds us how simplicity can move mountains—Gandhi Jayanti celebrates the power of truth and non-violence. Recognised as one of the three national holidays in India, it also carries global significance as the United Nations has observed it since 2007 as the International Day of Non-Violence.

Maha Navami, the ninth day of Sharad Navratri, is an observance grounded in devotion, myth and tradition. It recalls the final day of Goddess Durga's battle with Mahishasura, the buffalo demon, before her ultimate victory on Vijaya Dashami. The day is seen as the culmination of Navratri devotion, symbolising the victory of righteousness over evil and preparing devotees to begin anew.